Craig Hignett.

Blf

Blf

Well-known member
Just been watching some old seasons including the one below of the 97/98 season.
I had forgotten what a cracking player he was for us. Some big names in the games I've watched including Merson , Emmerson, TLF and Gascoigne etc. He was brilliant in them and scored some great goals.
What a player.
 
Blf said:
Just been watching some old seasons including the one below of the 97/98 season.
I had forgotten what a cracking player he was for us. Some big names in the games I've watched including Merson , Emmerson, TLF and Gascoigne etc. He was brilliant in them and scored some great goals.
What a player.
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Last game with a bang, 2 goals v Oxford & promotion
Scored 4 goals v Brighton league Cup match at AP in a 5-0 win, great player
 
If I remember correctly, Robbo was going to dump him until Hignett revealed he'd been playing with glandular fever, or something. He took a paycut and asked for a second chance, then scored a hatful in pre-season. Then scored the first goal at The Riverside.
 
Rofesleg said:
If I remember correctly, Robbo was going to dump him until Hignett revealed he'd been playing with glandular fever, or something. He took a paycut and asked for a second chance, then scored a hatful in pre-season. Then scored the first goal at The Riverside.
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Correct he did get reduced terms, not to sure on the illness mind
 
Really good player on his day - unfortunately he wasn’t the most consistent, and he’d only have one good game in every four or so at top flight level. Still thought he was great signing overall and definitely a crowd favourite 👍🏻


🐔
 
Still occasionally see him in Yarm and had a canny chinwag with him at the bar in the George one Sunday afternoon
 
On his day he was excellent and could hold his own with our top players. He was inconsistent, but so were many of them.
A very good signing.
I recall the glandular fever too and he was treated poorly.
Showed some class in fighting back.
 
I think we all loved Higgy - as much for his personality as his ability - and I think he was treated badly by the club. I suppose a manager makes decisions he thinks right but for me letting Hignett go only a couple of months after buying Gazza (effectively his replacement) was a big mistake.
 
Think it was pretty clear Robbo just didn't really fancy him as a player but, bit like Bamford and Pulis his performances forced Robson to keep picking him regardless. All managers have their favourites and equally players they just don't rate. Thought he was a very intelligent player as demonstrated by how well he linked up with players like Barmby and Merson.

He was inconsistent at premier League level, probably suffered a bit from being a bit of jack of trades. Not really a striker, not really a winger not really a midfielder but could do a job in all those positions. His finishing was excellent mind.

Suspect the final straw was Gazza getting his squad place in the Carling Cup final. There's only so long you can put up with the manager treating you unfairly no matter how much you love the club.

Went on to prove at other clubs he would've still had something to offer if he'd stayed.
 
Higgy was great for us & so happy for the ld he will go down in Boro folklore with the scoring the 1st ever goal at the Riverside

As Festa rightly pointed out Robbo just didnt fancy him, that happens in football unfortunately, his heart always was in the Boro mind, no matter where he went afterwards

A very good signing by Lennie, far, far better for us than a complete waste of money on Gascoigne & Pallister too all about opinions
 
Erimus74 said:
Higgy was great for us & so happy for the ld he will go down in Boro folklore with the scoring the 1st ever goal at the Riverside

As Festa rightly pointed out Robbo just didnt fancy him, that happens in football unfortunately, his heart always was in the Boro mind, no matter where he went afterwards

A very good signing by Lennie, far, far better for us than a complete waste of money on Gascoigne & Pallister too all about opinions
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It is a good point re Pally.
It still rankles that we paid as much for him as we got from Man U and hey had all his best years.
I loved him in his first spell, but whilst he did help us to 9th in his first season back, he was done after that.

Gascoigne was just a very very bad signing.

Hignett was part of some very exciting memories.
 
Hignett and Barmby were a class act. Juninho is my favorite player, but if Robson spent that money on a couple of great defenders instead and kept the midget gems, we would have probably finished higher.

What an amazing time that was though. Unless we get bought out by an oil rich nation with dodgy human rights issues, I don't think that we will see anything quite like that again.
 
indeedido said:
It is a good point re Pally.
It still rankles that we paid as much for him as we got from Man U and hey had all his best years.
I loved him in his first spell, but whilst he did help us to 9th in his first season back, he was done after that.

Gascoigne was just a very very bad signing.

Hignett was part of some very exciting memories.
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To be fair transfer fees had increased massively between him leaving and returning.

His back was his undoing in the end though I think.
 
TBH, I’ve always thought that Gascogne was not too bad a gamble. His glory days were over but he had odd good times playing for Boro and we won promotion. Obviously not totally due to signing Gazza, but he had a some influence at times.
However Sunderland didn’t gamble on anyone and missed out on promotion.
Maybe just the way cards fall.
 
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